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The mother herself called the police on her brother, and sent them to his house, thinking he had the children. The police showed there to find there was another "Martha Lee" living there, the mom's brother had a daughter also named Martha Lee...

Ida Crutchfield, a woman who ran a Charleston hotel, claimed to have seen the children approximately a week afterwards. "I do not remember the exact date", she said in a statement. The children had come in, around midnight, with two men and two women, all of whom appeared to her to be "of Italian extraction". When she attempted to speak with the children, "[o]ne of the men looked at me in a hostile manner; he turned around and began talking rapidly in Italian. Immediately, the whole party stopped talking to me". She recalled that they left the hotel early the next morning. Investigators today do not, however, consider her story credible as she had only first seen photos of the children two years after the fire, five years before she came forward.

On the night, the mother (apparently a light sleeper) made a venture into the basement. Without knowing the house layout, but knowing of the supposed coal store in the basement, I propose the mother opened any delivery hatch in order to hasten the effect of fire accelerants.

Also, the eldest two Sodder sons (that is, those that were at home on the night) apparently singed their hair on the way downstairs during the fire. Again, a previous post here to Sodder Family forum mentioned those Sodder sons must have singed their hair after igniting accelerants (on the night).

Further reports indicate lack of the distinctive burnt flesh odour.

No mention of fuel accelerant odour.

A previous post questioned the origin(s) of the fire. Rooftop? Basement? Fuse boxes? Any combination of these?

Investigators today do not, however, consider her story credible as she had only first seen photos of the children two years after the fire, five years before she came forward.

That'd be in 1949 when the father initiated re-examination of the fire site.

Ida Crutchfield's 1949 affidavit of 4 of the 5 missing children (therefore, "in the know") is as per vanished equipment thief and mystery phone caller on 1945 night.

George Sodder was being warned to take no more action for the good of all, including himself. Investigators were deliberately led astray. George Sodder didn't understand the bigger picture yet deeply cared for the whereabouts and wellbeing of his missing children. Mr Sodder kept searching for answers - come what may to himself.

That'd be in 1949 when the father initiated re-examination of the fire site.

Ida Crutchfield's 1949 affidavit of 4 of the 5 missing children (therefore, "in the know") is as per vanished equipment thief and mystery phone caller on 1945 night.

George Sodder was being warned to take no more action for the good of all, including himself. Investigators were deliberately led astray. George Sodder didn't understand the bigger picture yet deeply cared for the whereabouts and wellbeing of his missing children. Mr Sodder kept searching for answers - come what may to himself.

The father worked hard. Had some smarts. Was a self-made man. Honest. Adored his wife. Loved being father to a big family. Kinda adopted by the local community in which he settled. What are the chances he was escorted away to the USA, at age 13, by his older brother because an elder sibling back in Italy displayed AS?

The above link may not stay long as it is 1 of 10 complementary stories enticing guests to subscribe. But, there it is for anyone in the area to follow-up a hardcopy on microfische, or the like.

Scroll down the above link and on the left is a copyrighted photo of Katherine Bonham Hill Lewis also known as Old Lady Lewis.

Apparently, Old Lady Lewis was a powerful, much feared woman who was notorious for having police members and certain other authorities in her pocket.

"A hundred years after Katherine Lewis’ shenanigans, which led all three of her sons down a criminal path, Lucas said the family has recovered."

Now, I'm not saying Old Lady Lewis and her relatives were involved in the rescue of the children, but that it now becomes a definite possibility that certain authorities were bribed so as to effect the disappearance of the missing children.

Originally Posted by ad rem

Ida Crutchfield, a woman who ran a Charleston hotel, claimed to have seen the children approximately a week afterwards. "I do not remember the exact date", she said in a statement. The children had come in, around midnight, with two men and two women, all of whom appeared to her to be "of Italian extraction". When she attempted to speak with the children, "[o]ne of the men looked at me in a hostile manner; he turned around and began talking rapidly in Italian. Immediately, the whole party stopped talking to me". She recalled that they left the hotel early the next morning. Investigators today do not, however, consider her story credible as she had only first seen photos of the children two years after the fire, five years before she came forward.

Charleston WV had a bad side of town back then. The distance from Fayetteville WV (where the children seemingly disappeared) to Charleston WV is 60 miles which, today, takes a little over an hour to drive by car.

And taking five small children all the way to Italy is kind of difficult. It involves someone caring about the kids, making sure their fed, spending money on boat tickets, and food and other stuff the kids would need to survive. So... And than to keep them in Italy, to let them grow up in Italy... It takes a lot of work to add even one child into your family, let alone five. It almost makes me think perhaps the kids were taken by some of the Sodder's family, (with or without their permission) and perhaps sent each child to live with someone different in the family. Which makes it harder to track. Perhaps one was sent to Italy one was sent to Florida to the Cipriani's, perhaps they had some distant relatives in New York and Betty went there, (the photo of the ballet student was from New York).... It just makes things harder to track.

If sting and rescue theory proves true then the ill-gotten insurance payouts (5x) would expedite relocation of the four rescued children away from their immediate family.

Just saw this and had to post the actual accurate information. The Christmas tree was not absent in the Sodder home. It was there but had not been decorated. The Sodder family had a tradition on Christmas that all the family together decorate the tree. Joe, the 21 year old son, was still on the military base in North Carolina and not expected to arrive until Christmas day, Once Joe arrived they would all decorate the tree. It was a fun and joyful family tradition. Joe arrived home on Christmas day but it was not to a house filled with his joyful family. He arrived to a massive hole in the ground where their home once stood and to his distraught and heartbroken parents and four siblings, John, Marion, George Jr (Ted), and baby Sylvia. I'm originally from WV and have stayed very close to this story. This information is accurate.

The above link is to the My West Virginia Home website which matter-of-factly mentions local authorities of the 1930s to 1940-ish era were corrupted and likely by whom, as posted up-thread, further substantiating sting & rescue theory. Same website mentions the Sodder children. Permission to link to the above website kindly granted by Jerry.